Simple Thank YOUS...

 



 

Simple, CHEAP thanks yous... Thank yous are soooo easy....soooo appreciated...... and such a great way to show your children what it means to have someone who cares about you, or helps you to GROW in soooooo many ways!! ;)

Here is a simple little pot we clipped and repotted a plant we already had in our house and spiced it up with a thank you note... "thanks for helping me grow." 

Inspirational ways to express our gratitude are made sooooo easy with Pinterest to assist us.  Numerous "food" ideas are great ways as well... "May your holidays be merry and 'Sprite'  " ... Love that one... willm have to use it soon!

This small pot was a direct inspiration from the amazing site, but you can adapt soooooo much just by personalizing your gift for your special occasion. Or adapting certain "holiday" ideas to suit your needs! 

Remember those who help you, family, or friends... even in the smallest ways.  We never can say thank you enough, especially when it affects your child!

Isaac helped plant this little guy...and couldn't wait to share it with his teacher! We were still in the apartment when we shared this thank you, so the typed up sign and clip art are displayed by sticking a drinking straw into the soil (due to lack of craft supplies!) ... but it sure worked well and I would use it again!... Easy to staple the card stock too!

Simple ...... and soooooooooo cheap!!  Cost about $3!!

THE life of a Kindergartener...

Boy oh boy JULY was my last post... well now I have plenty to blog about and catching up to do! A house to call home, crafts and decorating ideas, we've had a great pirate birthday party lately!!! So maybe I can find a bit of time to continue on this adventure.

The first of many ideas running about my brain is how Isaac is dealing with Kindergarten. Or how his mom is too.. for that matter.

The kid LOVES it... Here is why I know this.

So I picked him up from daycare today -- and he knows its Friday -- and the first full fledged conversation we have to have is when the next day of school is. This most recent conversation was a rough one, as he some how "blames" me that he has to WAIT until Tuesday to go to school, so that is 3 WHOLE DAYS MOM... (Monday is Veteran's day, so no school of course!) He really does get visibly upset that he needs to wait longer than normal to head back to the BIG K. I don't know what they do to him there (actually I do -- they are VERY informative!), but the kid can't live without it.

Here is another example of the angony I must put my kid through if he were to miss a bit of school:

He needed a well-child visit, because my baby turned 6! wow... So I got one scheduled and due to my schedules at work (crazy and all over the place) I wanted an early afternoon appointment. We were able to get one! So, Trevor had speech from 11:25 to 11:55am that day. I thought what a great time saver for me to grab Isaac at the same school for his 1pm appointment-- I grabbed my 2 boys, we then dropped Trevor off back at Daycare and I wanted to TREAT Isaac to lunch with his mom.

He seemed a bit on edge, but we all are sometimes, so we ate at Taco Bell someplace Isaac BEGS for and Trevor dreads -- thus the "treat" of it all!! (and that his mom is there right??!) He seemed to enjoy that -- but once we got into the Jeep I was questioned, "How long is this appointment?" I told him probably about 1 hour. "Oh so I can go back to school then," he stated with SOOOO much excitement in his eyes! I broke the news to him that it would be pretty pointless for him to go back for 1/2 hour and that he will probably not be going back.

He was then quiet...VERY QUIET. I was driving so wasn't paying much attention... until I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw my 6 year old struggling to hold bad HUGE tears that were building up in his eyes. My heart broke for him... I was so shocked and amazed at his awareness of the "burden" that he had to visit the doctor during his prime school hours. I didn't say anything at that moment... afterall, I couldn't figure out what to say? I was proud, yet anxious for him -- then the dilema that we would be arriving at the appointment shortly -- and what would they think I did to my kid when he is crying like that?? -- then I heard a BIG sigh in the back seat. It was beyond dramatic, he definately wanted me to see the troubles I was putting him through, because as I looked up into the rearview mirror -- I saw a growing boy that had a deathy smirk on his face -- clearly mad at ME for putting him through this. He whipped his head around to glare out the window. Then, I knew we needed to talk... after all, wasn't it obvious after that sigh??

I asked, what's wrong Isaac -- there was no teenaged "nothing" coming out of him, cuz all at once the tears could no longer be sustained.. they were pouring out of his now bagging eyes. "I want to go back to school."

How could you not attempt bringing him back after having your heart broken by these reactions...the reaction I got from the office when I signed him back into school post doctor's appointment -- was an obvious, "what the hell are you coming back for -- look"... I just stated "he had to come back!" As the reception smirked, I shrugged my shoulders, but with a little relief that my child can find the joys in school that so many are not finding, or are not having the opportunity to find. Let's just hope this ambition holds on for a VERY long time, as we know as a Kindergarten he has a very long road ahead of him!

He strives to be just what we are expecting him to be. It is amazing for all the expectations we have of kids, they still want to have someone be proud of them and they want to make us "happy." If only we can find more ways to relieve this stress for our children -- just be children. Yet, Isaac succeeds gracefully at these attempts to satisfy. Its amazing to me, the product that my 6 year old has become. So PROUD of him -- and yes I tell him that, as often as I can!

Something to be extremely proud of:

We had our first parent/teacher's conference about 1 month ago. Isaac was there too...different than what I remember them being. We were told -- He's a role model, and a great student AND friend to his classmates!! He is exceeding in everything (except recognizing coins -- there are only 4 coins and he just can't get that for some reason-- guess he won't be an accountant??!!) AND there are 4 reading groups will be starting (have since started) and we would like Isaac to be in the highest level one as he is soooo ready for that! =Made me want to hold back my huge tears for many reasons...it's amazing, I'm so proud, I'm glad it is easy for him as I dread when it isn't, but most importantly --- he is growing up WAY TOO FAST.

Choking up even right now. Of course there are times when this amazing 6 year old makes me want to pull my hair out, but how did I get so lucky to have a big boy in Kindergarten that can succeed beyond expectations of so many. How did we get this far, so fast?

As I pull this pop top off my Dr. Diet Pepper, I am reminded that he also wants to please his teacher... They collect pop tops, box tops for education, and UPC symbols (the latter we don't do??) and since it was mentioned in his class we have had a game warden in our house that monitors your every move..."Mom, can you drink a pop??" Yep, just so he can have a pop top for school... He is enthusicatic to say the LEAST.

So in conclusion, if you haven't figured out just how much Isaac appreciates his educational opportunities... I am sure there will be similiar stories to come! Love every inch of that 6 year old!